Maintenance Questions

[C. Massey]

Cousin has a glider and said that he needs to add fluid in compass.

Is this something that can be done? If so, can he do it or does an A&P have
to do it? What is the fluid?

Also, he is also wanting to replace the tubing between the pitot tube and
the instrument. Again, can he do this or does an A&P have to do it?


Thanks...

[Morgans[_2_]]

"C. Massey" > wrote

What is the fluid?

In sailboats, it is mineral spirits. I don't know about airplanes, cause I
don't think I am allowed to mess with the sacred compass! <;-))

[Dave[_5_]]

Kerosene. If the compass is an Airpath, which seems to be the most
common, you can buy a rebuild kit that includes new seals and fluid.

I will let the armchair lawyers hereabouts comment on the legalities.

David Johnson

[BT]

Para 43.3, (g) Authorized persons, preventive maintenance, rated pilot

Appendix A to Part 43 of the Fed Air Regs, paragraph C, Preventive Maint

Do not see a compass as an approved item..
do see.. "replacing hoses other than hydraulic"

Normally there is more to a compass than "adding fluid", if it needs
fluild.. there is a leak.. need to rebuild it.
Then need to "swing the compass" installed in the glider with electrics on.

BT


"C. Massey" > wrote in message
et...
> Cousin has a glider and said that he needs to add fluid in compass.
>
> Is this something that can be done? If so, can he do it or does an A&P
> have to do it? What is the fluid?
>
> Also, he is also wanting to replace the tubing between the pitot tube and
> the instrument. Again, can he do this or does an A&P have to do it?
>
>
> Thanks...
>

[Robert M. Gary]

On Jun 24, 8:34 pm, "C. Massey" > wrote:
> Cousin has a glider and said that he needs to add fluid in compass.
>
> Is this something that can be done? If so, can he do it or does an A&P have
> to do it? What is the fluid?
>
> Also, he is also wanting to replace the tubing between the pitot tube and
> the instrument. Again, can he do this or does an A&P have to do it?
>
> Thanks...

I know I can't legally do either of these on my airplane (my A&P can't
even change the tube, that an avionics job). Is this glider FAA
certified?

-Robert

[Ron Natalie]

BT wrote:


> Then need to "swing the compass" installed in the glider with electrics on.
>
>
Hmm... the only glider I ever flew in didn't have anything resembling
electricity.


>

[No Name]

acid free white kerosene
fill compass/ get A&P to replace tubing
==========================================
"C. Massey" > wrote in message
et...
> Cousin has a glider and said that he needs to add fluid in compass.
>
> Is this something that can be done? If so, can he do it or does an A&P
> have to do it? What is the fluid?
>
> Also, he is also wanting to replace the tubing between the pitot tube and
> the instrument. Again, can he do this or does an A&P have to do it?
>
>
> Thanks...
>

[Robert M. Gary]

On Jun 24, 8:34 pm, "C. Massey" > wrote:
> Cousin has a glider and said that he needs to add fluid in compass.
>
> Is this something that can be done? If so, can he do it or does an A&P have
> to do it? What is the fluid?
>
> Also, he is also wanting to replace the tubing between the pitot tube and
> the instrument. Again, can he do this or does an A&P have to do it?
>
> Thanks...

BTW: After making the mistake once, I would never again "add fluid" to
a compass and replace the seals. After buying a total of 4 kits and
paying almost 5 hours in labor my compass no longer leaks again. For
about 1/2 that price I could have just bought a new compass. It seems
as though the body of the compass warps over the years and getting a
solid seal becomes very, very difficult.

-Robert

[[email protected][_2_]]

On Jun 25, 6:32 am, Ron Natalie > wrote:

> Hmm... the only glider I ever flew in didn't have anything resembling
> electricity.

You might be surprised at the sophistication of a modern glider (not
some stone age beat up trainer). My 20 year old LS6 has two
independent GPSs, moving map, glide computer, electric varios with
audio, radio, ELT, dual redundant separate battery systems, etc.

Many of my friends have transponders and/or TPAS's in theirs.

Nice to have on those long XC flights.

Kirk
66

[Kyle Boatright]

My understanding is that your cousin cannot legally work on his certified
airplane's compass, nor can an AI or A&P. My understanding is that an FAA
approved instrument repair station is needed.

At least this is what a buddy of mine (an AI) told me one day when he was
standing over his workbench repairing a compass from another guy's *boat*.
;-)

Aircraft Spruce sells both the correct fluid for a compass and the seals for
the compass. To top off the fluid, you can simply pull the little plug (or
is it a screw ? - can't remember) at the top of the compass and use a
syringe or pipette to add fluid. I had to do that to my *boat's* compass a
few years ago. Apparently compasses are vented and the fluid can evaporate
over time.

KB


"C. Massey" > wrote in message
et...
> Cousin has a glider and said that he needs to add fluid in compass.
>
> Is this something that can be done? If so, can he do it or does an A&P
> have to do it? What is the fluid?
>
> Also, he is also wanting to replace the tubing between the pitot tube and
> the instrument. Again, can he do this or does an A&P have to do it?
>
>
> Thanks...
>

[Morgans[_2_]]

> wrote

> acid free white kerosene
> fill compass/ get A&P to replace tubing

I'm curious, for those that know sailboat and airplane compasses, why the
difference in fluids?

In sailboats, I was told the reason for using mineral oil was to dampen the
movements, with the more viscous fluid doing that function.

I would think that airplanes would need the same characteristics of the
dampened movement, but yet, people are saying that the thinner kerosene is
the fluid of choice to use in the compass.

Anyone got any insights to this?
--
Jim in NC

[RST Engineering]

Yeah, I did this whole "what fluid to use" thing about four years ago on
this same newsgroup. No, kerosene isn't the optimum choice, but that's what
Lindy had to use going across the Big Pond, and the FAA has proceeded little
from that point.

Mineral oil freezes at a fairly high temperature. Damned few sailboats out
on the water when it freezes, so that isn't a problem for them. It is for
us.

The viscous fluid of choice for compasses is copy machine fuser oil. Good
from boiling to freezing and well past. Thick enough not to ooze past
slightly dried out seals. Not to be used except in experimental aircraft
and aviation quality (ahem) "boat" compasses.

Jim

--
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in
a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside,
thoroughly used up, totally worn out, with chocolate in one hand and wine in
the other, loudly proclaiming 'WOO HOO What a Ride!'"
--Unknown


"Morgans" > wrote in message
...


> In sailboats, I was told the reason for using mineral oil was to dampen
> the movements, with the more viscous fluid doing that function.
>
> I would think that airplanes would need the same characteristics of the
> dampened movement, but yet, people are saying that the thinner kerosene is
> the fluid of choice to use in the compass.

[Morgans[_2_]]

"RST Engineering" > wrote in message

> Yeah, I did this whole "what fluid to use" thing about four years ago on
> this same newsgroup. No, kerosene isn't the optimum choice, but that's
> what Lindy had to use going across the Big Pond, and the FAA has proceeded
> little from that point.
>
> Mineral oil freezes at a fairly high temperature. Damned few sailboats
> out on the water when it freezes, so that isn't a problem for them. It is
> for us.
>
> The viscous fluid of choice for compasses is copy machine fuser oil. Good
> from boiling to freezing and well past. Thick enough not to ooze past
> slightly dried out seals. Not to be used except in experimental aircraft
> and aviation quality (ahem) "boat" compasses.

Interesting.

Is that "fuser oil" the stuff that was used in the old purple letter
mimeograph copy machines, or something in newer machines that I know
absolutely nothing about?

I always used to love that smell, of freshly run copies. So if I smelled
that wonderful smell in flight, I know my compass just sprung a leak!

What do the new compasses (those that still have magnets in them) use for
fluid?
--
Jim in NC

[Jim Stewart]

Morgans wrote:
> "RST Engineering" > wrote in message
>
>> Yeah, I did this whole "what fluid to use" thing about four years ago on
>> this same newsgroup. No, kerosene isn't the optimum choice, but that's
>> what Lindy had to use going across the Big Pond, and the FAA has proceeded
>> little from that point.
>>
>> Mineral oil freezes at a fairly high temperature. Damned few sailboats
>> out on the water when it freezes, so that isn't a problem for them. It is
>> for us.
>>
>> The viscous fluid of choice for compasses is copy machine fuser oil. Good
>> from boiling to freezing and well past. Thick enough not to ooze past
>> slightly dried out seals. Not to be used except in experimental aircraft
>> and aviation quality (ahem) "boat" compasses.
>
> Interesting.
>
> Is that "fuser oil" the stuff that was used in the old purple letter
> mimeograph copy machines, or something in newer machines that I know
> absolutely nothing about?

No, it's not that.

Fuser oil was used in older copy machines.
It's a clear, probably silicon-based oil
that kept the fuser rolls soft and pliable.

Haven't seen it for years.

[Blanche]

The SIRS compasses are using a silicon fluid. The claim is that the
"thicker" fluid reduces turning and acceleration errors.

personally, I really like the big numerals on the dial!

[Jon Woellhaf]

Yes, I can actually see the numbers on my SIRS compass. I think there were
numbers on the old original one. They may even have been somewhat visible
when it was new.

"Blanche" > wrote in message
...
> The SIRS compasses are using a silicon fluid. The claim is that the
> "thicker" fluid reduces turning and acceleration errors.
>
> personally, I really like the big numerals on the dial!